Candidates hit the ground running soon after filing nominations
TAPAH: Fresh from filing their nomination papers, candidates in the Ayer Kuning state by-election wasted no time in hitting the campaign trail to win over the hearts and minds of the constituency’s over 31,800 voters.
Barisan Nasional’s Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir joined Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to meet with residents of Changkat Petai before visiting voters in Tapah Road, Tanjung Keramat and Kampung Batu Tiga.
Perikatan Nasional’s Abd Muhaimin Malek visited Temoh Station with PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad before going to Pekan Getah and Changkat Petai.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s KS Bawani, meanwhile, had a walkabout in Changkat Petai and Tapah Road.
When met earlier, Abd Muhaimin, who is Tapah PAS chief, said he aims to visit as many homes as he could during the campaign.
“We want to meet all our voters. We want to go to all their homes, if possible, to campaign with our machinery,” he said after filling his nomination papers at the Dewan Merdeka, here yesterday.
“We will meet voters from all corners of the constituency, from Kampung Rahmat to Kampung Baru Coldstream,” he added.
Polling is set for April 26, while early voting is on April 22.
The by-election is called after its incumbent, Ishsam Shahruddin, 58, of Barisan, passed away on Feb 22.
Abd Muhaimin said he hopes the by-election campaign will be conducted fairly.
“We hope for a good campaign that is filled with love and respect as we uphold the spirit of democracy.
“Even though this is my first time, I’m hopeful for a positive outcome,” he said, adding that responses from the people he has met have been encouraging.
“We contest with the aim to win,” he added.
Mohamad Yusri, meanwhile, said he wants to continue Ishsam’s legacy.
“We will continue the plans of the late assemblyman, particularly in the field of education.
“This also aligns with the hopes of our MP (Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan), where education will become a key foundation in developing an educated and high-quality society,” he said when met.
Ayer Kuning, located between Tapah and Kampar, is one of two state seats in the Tapah parliamentary constituency. It is a rural area with a Malay majority.
Mohamad Yusri said he and his team will work hard to ensure that Barisan’s promises are fulfilled and that Ayer Kuning remains under the coalition’s banner.
In the 2022 General Election, Barisan’s Ishsam polled 9,088 votes and won by a 2,213 majority, defeating Pakatan’s Mohd Nazri Hashim, Muhammad Noor Farid Zainal of Perikatan, Bawani, and Pejuang’s Maziah Salim.
